Trump says Putin 'playing with fire'; US eyes sanctions

President Donald Trump warned that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was "playing with fire" in a social media post on Tuesday, as the US weighs whether to target Moscow with additional sanctions over its long-range missile and drone barrage against Ukraine.

- Agencies

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW:

"What Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD," Trump wrote in a post to his Truth Social platform. "He's playing with fire!"

Russia has in recent days escalated its aerial attacks against Ukraine, launching hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at targets across the country.

The escalation came even as Trump urged officials from both countries to negotiate a cease-fire agreement in talks mediated by the Vatican.